Television antenna



Nov. 28, 1950 F. GONSETT ET AL TELEVISION ANTENNA Filed Oct. 27, 1949 lIIII'I I 5 Sheets-Sheet l --Z5 INVENTORS i PMRQM MiL ATTORNEY Nov. 28,1950 F. R. GONSETT ETAL 2,532,094

TELEVISION ANTENNA Filed Oct. 27, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 28, 1950 F.R. GONSETT ETAL 2,532,094

TELEVISION ANTENNA Filed Oct. 27, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS PM79.6mm

ATTORNEY 1950 F. R. GONSETT ETAL 2,532,094

TELEVISION ANTENNA Filed Oct. 27, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 W INVENTORS 7PM7i. Govt/112 ATTORNEY Nov. 28, 1950 F.- R. GONSETT ETAL TELEVISIONANTENNA 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed 001;. 27, 1949 M m m V m ATTORNEYPatented Nov. 28, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT omcs TELEVISION ANTENNAFaust R. .Gonsett and Robert Gonsett, Los Angeles, Calif,

Application OctoberZ'l, 1949,Seria'lNo. 123,904

.5 Claims. '1

This application relates to antenna constructions, more particularly totelevision antenna constructions.

It is well known that television antenna constructions, when assembled,are large and unwieldly space occupying contrivances which are to handleand entail heavy costs for the packaging and transportation of the sameunless collapsed to save space and reduce transportation expenses.Besides it would be exceedingly expensive to crate or package a fullyassembled television construction.

It is one of the objects of our invention to produce a completetelevision antenna construction and to package the same securely in acollapsed or knockdown condition for inexpen- 'sive handling andtransportation. When each package *has reached its destination it can beremoved from the package receptacle and readily assembled in itscondition for mounting upon a roof or equivalent structure for itsintended'and ultima-teuse.

It is an object of our invention to produce a television antennaconstruction having excellent wave intercepting and collecting qualitiesso that the television waves may be conducted "by suitable leads or"conductors to a television receiver with sufficient strength andintensity to produce 'a'clearly defined picture on the screen of thetelevision receiver.

it is "a further o'bjectof our -invention topro- *duce antenna elementsof particular construction having the reinforcing quality imparted to itby the particular contour resulting from the shapingof suitable strip=material.

Other objects, as well as advantages will be "revealed "in the detaileddescription oi? the accompanying drawings which constitute a part -ofthis application.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is-a foreshortened elevation of ourte'levision antenna beingpartly in section :and the elements are shown in a fragmentary condi--tion.

Fig. *2 is -'a =foreshortened perspective -view of "ourcomplete antenna.

3 is a vertical transverse section comprising the head of the antennaconstruction.

Fig. 4' is an elevation partly in section showing the complete'antenna-head.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section through *the -clamping means'forthe'antenna post.

Fig. 6 is 'a plan view of the lower section of the head showing theconductor connections which lead to the receiver.

' Fig. 7is'a plan view as seenfromthe bottom -of th e upper-sectiondfthe head.

section and an upper section 2.

Fig. 8 is a transverse fragmentary section showing the upper section ofthe head in cross section and including the fastening means for clampingtogether the sections of the head.

Fig. 9 discloses a plan view of a lock washer located between the upperend of the post and a portion of the lower section of the head.

Fig. :10 is a perspective view of a modification of our televisionantenna.

Fig. 11 is aplan view of a-portion of the collapsed antenna.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary side elevation disclosing the assembledcondition of the antenna elements.

Fig. 13 is a plan view of the same construction with a portion brokenaway to display clearly the clamping means for the movable antenna 0element.

Fig. 14 is a transversesection on the line I ll l of Fig. 11.

15 is a fragmentary perspective view of one group of antenna elementsswedged into a combined connector and socket element.

'-=Fig. *l-6 is a-perspecti-Ve view showing the cross sectional contourof the element.

Fig. 17 is a plan view of the base element for securing the post inposition-on .a suitable support not shown.

"Fig. 18 is a side elevation of a schematic arrangementof antennaelements as assembled and clamped into position.

Figs/19 to 27 inclusive are schematic arrangementsof a variety ofantenna elements which may be selected to produce what is considered thebest assemblage under the conditions existmg.

In the drawings the post l comprises a lower These sections -arepreferably hollow and are telescopically secured together. The lowersection is provided with internal dimensions substantiallyequal to theexternal dimensions of-section 2 so that these sections can be securedtogether with substantia lly a driving fit. The top edge of the lowersection constitutes a shoulder which supports a collar 3. The'collaraccurately fits the upper section 2 and rests on the lower section andis provided with apertures or equivalent means for engagement by guywires 4. The guy wires "'4 merely serve as bracing means for maintaining-the-post in an upright position. The lower ends of the guy wires 4, not:shown, are suitably-secured to a roof construction or the like by theuse of eyelets or other equivalent means.

The lower -end of the post is provided with a clamp :construction 5having to some extent at "least {the qualitiesoi-nniversality in that itcangbe adjusted and secured to a variety of supports such as a roof, notshown, or a post 6 projecting from a roof or the like. The bracket armof the clamp is provided with a circular aperture '5 receiving acircular plate 8 having a lateral projection 9 against which the postrests. The bracket arm and the circular plate areof substantially thesame thickness so that a flanged U-shaped clamping member provided withbolts extending through the flanges and the circular member may beclamped in any desired position of angular adjustment by the use ofwashers on the bolts 10 which extend from the circular plate to aposition engaging over the circular edge of the bracket arm. The bottomportion of the post I is received in the U-shaped clamping member and isalso clamped to the bracket arm and circular plate by the same boltsii). The base flange II is substantially at right angles to the bracketarm and is provided with apertured portions whereby it may be secured toa roof construction, not shown, or to the post or projection 6 by theuse of screws or bolts I2. The clamp is also provided with a slottedportion l3 adapted to receive a clamping band It having a plurality ofapertures providing for the use of a clamping bolt I5.

The particular clamping construction above described lends its self tosubstantially universal adjustment of the upright post i. After the postis adjusted as desired then the guy wires are secured in position whilethe post is maintained in its desired and adjusted position.

A head is supported on and secured to the upper end of the post section2. The head comprises upper section i6 and lower section l1. These headsections are molded separately by using a weather resisting compositioncomprising a suitable plastic material having excellent dielectricproperties.

The lower section I! supports a pair of metallic segments havingexcellent electrical conducting properties. These segments are arrangedin spaced relation providing for a dowel pin projecting from the uppersection 16, said pin extending into a recess of the lower section.Opposite from the recess is located a passageway for the conductor leadsHi. The upper ends of the conductor leads are suitably secured to themetallic segments by screws H3. The lower section is provided with asocket portion to receive the upper end of the post section 2. Thesection 2 is provided with a screw threaded element or nut swedged intoposition so that a securing and clamping bolt 20 extending through theupper section It may engage the fixed nut in the post section 2 in orderto clamp the head parts and antenna elements together in a substantiallyfixed position. The bolt 26 is preferably provided with a spring cushion2! supported on a washer 22. The metallic segments are provided withbosses 23 which extend upwardly a short distance into the channel of theantenna elements. The head section 11 is also provided with an upwardlyextending boss 24 to assist in properly aligning the head sections. Thelower section is also provided with a peripheral recess to accommodatedepending flanges of the upper section it.

The upper section i6 is provided with spaced radial grooves 25 havingrecesses 26 in the bottom portions of the grooves. This section isprovided with a depending dowel pin 21 which aligns properly bothsections of the head and is also provided with depending flanges 281which engage the upper recess portion of section IT. The relation of therecess and flanges is such as to facilitate the shedding of rain and thelike during inclement weather and thereby prevent undesirable shortcircuiting of electrically conducted parts.

In order to prevent the swaying and swinging of the conductor leads I8we have provided dielectric collars 29 surrounding the post at suitablyspaced intervals. Each collar is provided with an elongated aperture inits peripheral portion through which the conductor leads I8 are reevedas clearly indicated in Fig. 2.

The antenna elements comprise channel bars 38 and 3| having laterallyextending flanges 32 constituting an exceedingly strongly reinforcedelement and if bent accidentally lends itself to the straightening ofthe same. The inner end of each element is provided with a struck-uptongue 33 received in the recesses 26- of the upper section 16. When thesections I6 and I! are adjusted to a loosely assembled relation thechannel elements can be inserted into the grooves 25 of upper sectionl6. When all of the elements are in properly assembled condition thesection l6 and I! are firmly clamped together by the bolt 20.

The particular type of elements produced by us is easily produced andcomprises a selection of large coils of sheet aluminum approximating1000 pounds or thereabouts. A suitably hard grade of aluminum isselected, such as what is known in the trade as 24 ST. This coil ofsheet material is slitted into portions approximately seven-eighths ofan inch wide. These portions or strips are rolled into channel formincluding the outwardly extending outer flanges 32. The word channel asused herein is deemed to be a generic term including both a U-shapedchannel and a V-shaped channel when considering its cross sectionalcontour. Of course, every variety of channel should have laterallyextending flanges.

When this channel stock has been produced suitable lengths are severedtherefrom and one end of each link is operated upon to produce astruck-up tongue 33, as clearly indicated in Fig. 8. The shorter element3| at one side of the head is substantially the length of one-fourth ofa wave.

Each of the longer elements is therefore more than one-half wave lengthmeasured linearly. Of course any other length could be selected if founddesirable.

The modified construction shown in Figs. 10 to 17 inclusive discloses aplastic head 34 comprising upper and lower sections which are suitablysupported and clamped to asubstantially horizontal arm 35 connected toan additional arm 35 which supports a, reflector construction 31. At thejunction of the arms 35 and 36 a flanged U-clamp 38 is provided forclamping the same to the upper section 39 of the post 40. The lower endof the post 40 is provided with a channelled bracket 4| havingupstanding wings 42. The wings 42 are provided with aligned aperturesreceiving a bolt 43 which also extends through the lower end portion ofthe post 40. The bracket 4! is provided in its base with suitableapertures for securing it to a support, not shown. In this connectionparticular attention is called to the fact that the clampingconstruction disclosed in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, may be substituted for thechannelled bracket 4 I. It is conclusive therefore that these parts areinterchangeable.

The relation of the collar construction plus its connection with guywires is the same as that presence 5 :ldisclosed anddescribed inconnection with Figs. l-and2.

The sections of the headddare made of weather resisting plasticcomposition having the "prop- *erties of anexcellent'dielectric. Theseotionsof head 36 are located inspacedparallel relation and supportsocket members 4 5. members comprise flattened portions of oneend "of atube and havingits other end tubular toreceive the antenna elementswithout "deforming them at the tubular end. "The flattened end-of thetube also includes'the flattened ends of the antenna elements. Eachsocket for the reflector elements is .provided .iniitsgfiattened portionwith a pair of spaced apertures corresponding to a like pair of spacedapertures ,in theend of the arm 36 whereby the reflector may be securedby suitable-bolts to said arm 36.

The flattened portion of the socket for-the antenna elementsis providedwith an arcuate open ended slot adjacent its flattened end but spacedfrom :an-aperture to receive a bolt t5 whereby said socket anditsantennaelement may be pivoted to place the :antenna construction in aknockdown orcollapsed condition. The lower section of the "plastichead 3iis provided withapertures to receive bolts 46 having squared shanks--adjacent their heads. These squared shanks are adapted "toreoeive thearcuate slotted portions ofthe flat tened sockets. connections fortransmission wires leading to the receiving set. Each bolt head of bolts45 impinged directly against the slotted flattened portion of theantenna socket as will be evident from an inspection of Figs. 13 and 14thereby providing an excellent electrical contact.

The transmission wires are secured at their upper ends respectively tothe bolts 46 and the wires are reeved through stays 41 in a mannersimilar to that disclosed in Fig. 2.

The lower section of head 34 is provided with centering projections 48which aids in centering the clamping band 49 which embraces the headsections and is secured directly to the arms 35 by a bolt 5!]. videdwith an aperture to receive a clamping screw -5l which screw-threadedlyengages the lower section of head 34.

The antenna elements 52 and 53 are swaged securely in the conical ortubular construction M and the longer elements 52 are made from theregular stock construction comprising a channel having outwardly flaredflanges. The shorter elements 53 may be made of rods, tubes or theregular stock described in connection with the elements 52. The combinedcone id and the flattened portions thereof of the reflector 3'! arestructurally the same as that previously described in connection withthe antenna elements 52 and 53.

In Figs. 18 to 27 inclusive the plastic heads used are the same as thatdisclosed in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7 and 8. Fig. 18 is known in the tradeas the adjustacone. Fig. 19 is known in the trade as double W; Fig. 20is designated as Hi-Lo; Fig. 21 is Di Pole; Fig. 22 is Hi Pole; Fig. 23is Phased Hi-Lo; Fig. 24 is Extended V-Cone; Fig. 25 is a V-Cone; Fig.26 is a Double Dipole; Fig. 27 is a Hi-V-Lo. The selective schematicarrangements disclosed in Figs. 18 to 27 inclusive are contemplated foruse whenever found feasible.

Although we have disclosed particular arrangements of elements andfeatures in our disclosure it is contemplated that other variationsespecially Each of these bolts 45 constitute The lower portion of theband is pro- These socket variations in detail may besa'dopted-and'it=is'assumed-that such variations should come 'within 'thepurviewof the subject matter claimed herein.

Having fully described our antenna construction what we claim is:

l. A collapsible antenna constructiomsaidconstruction comprising apost,albase-clampior said post, a head on saidpost, a'support'ior uy Wires,

conductor segments, conductor stays and movable support surrounding andclosely :fitting said upper section andresting on the upper end .andshoulder of said lower section, said-antennar-elements being secured .toand extendingradially from said head, said conductor .segments beingSupported in said head and said antenna elements sing in contact attheir inner ends with one segment, said conductor stays surrounding saidpost in spaced relation and frictionally engaging the same, said stayshaving apertured projections to receive conductor leads reevedtherethrough.

2. A collapsible antenna construction, said construction comprising atubular post, a base clamp for said post, a head on said post, a supportfor guy wires, conductor connectors in said head, conductor stays, andmovable antenna elements, said post having a lower section and an uppersection, said sections being telescopically fitted together, theinternal transverse dimensions of said lower section being substantiallyequal to the corresponding external dimensions of said upper section, aportion of said upper section be-- ing received in a portion of saidlower section with substantially a driving fit, whereby said sectionsare maintained in substantially fixed relation, the upper end of saidlower section constituting a shoulder, said base clamp being adjustablysecured to and tightly embracing the lower end portion of said lowersection, said clamp being provided with means whereby it may be securedto an elevated structure, said guy wire support surrounding and closelyfitting said upper section and resting on the upper end and shoulder ofsaid lower section, said conductor connectors being supported in saidhead and said antenna elements being in electrical contact at theirinner ends with said connectors, said conductor stays surrounding saidpost in spaced relation and frictionally engaging the same, said staysbeing composed of suitable dielectric material and having slottedprojections to receive conductor leads reeved through the slottedprojections to prevent waving and swinging of said leads.

3. The construction set forth in claim 2, in which said head comprisesupper and lower dielectric sections, said sections having qualitiesresisting the devastating influences of the weather and composed of asuitable plastic composition, said antenna elements comprising suitablelengths of channelled strips of metallic corrosion resisting material,said strips having flanges extending laterally and outwardly from thechannelled portions thereof, said head having means for supporting saidantenna elements in combination with means extending through saidsections for clamping said antenna supporting means therebetween.

4. The construction set forth in claim 1, in which said head comprisesupper and lower dielectric hemispheres, said hemispheres havingqualities resisting the devastating influences of the weather andcomposed of a suitable plastic composition, said antenna elementscomprising suitable lengths of channelled strips of metallic corrosionresisting material, said strips having flanges extending laterally andoutwardly from the channelled portions thereof, said upper hemispherehaving radial grooves in its circular base portion receiving the innerend portions of said antenna elements, in combination with means tosecure said hemispheres together in clamping relation on the inner endsof said antenna elements.

5. An antenna construction comprising an upright post, and horizontalarms extending therefrom, a head clamped to one end of one of said arms,a reflector attached to the outer end of said other arm, said reflectorcomprising antenna elements extending therefrom in radial relation toeach other, said head comprising upper and lower sections arranged inspaced relation to receive supports for antenna elements, each supporthaving antenna elements extending in radial relation therefrom, incombination with connector bolts extending through the lower section ofsaid head and electrically engaging said antenna supports, said antennasupports being pivotally connected to said head and provided witharcuate slots whereby said antenna supports and the antennae may bepivoted to a position substantially parallel with said horizontal arms,said reflectors being detachably bolted to the end of its supportingarm.

FAUST R. GONSETT.

ROBERT R. GONSETT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,339,833 Saltmarsh May 11, 19201,909,930 Bidder May 23, 1933 2,008,233 Walthers July 16, 1935 2,123,414Gilmore July 12, 1938 2,237,778 Carter Apr. 18, 1941 2,299,218 FenerOct. 20, 1942 2,465,331 Resnick Mar. 22, 1949

